SALUTE THE TROOPS
A Look Back at
the Life of
Charlton Heston:
C
harlton Heston was and still is a monumental presence in the American film industry,
starring in remarkable epics, such as, The Ten
Commandments, Ben-Hur, and Planet of the Apes.
But creating Hollywood classics wasn’t his only talent. Heston was also an excellent huntsman and fisherman – obsessed with the outdoors – and served in
World War II as well. Heston held the title of President
for the National Rifle Association and was actively involved in American politics, such as the Civil Rights
movement, the Reagan campaign, and both Bush
campaigns. Journey with us as we step back in time to
relive the life of Charlton Heston, a man who not only
set the bar high for Hollywood, but became a genuine
legend within American history.
An Outdoorsman
Heston was, in fact, an avid outdoorsman. His acting
career was his first love, but his true passion grew in
nature and “the simple life.” Imagine, a small child
alone in the woods. It sounds scary now, especially for
those of us that have children, but this child isn’t your
average seven year old. A small boy, skinny and lanky,
he carries a fishing pole in one hand and a hunting
knife in the other. He is not afraid of the wild; he consumes it with great fervor.
For anyone that knows the story behind the star, that
little boy was the young Charlton Heston. Born as
John Charles Carter on October 4, 1923 in Wilmette,
Illinois, but moving soon thereafter because of his fa108 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
Heston poses for a portrait shoot on April 20, 2000 in Los Angeles.
(Photo by Lorenzo Agius/Contour by Getty Images)
Credit: Lorenzo Agius / contributor
ther’s job, Heston spent the early part of his childhood roaming the
backwoods of Michigan. There, he explored countless untouched
acres of forest, and passed time by fishing in the nearby lakes and
hunting small game. He educated himself on outdoor trades by trial and error, and often acted out made-up scenes in the privacy of
the foliage. To Heston, the woods became a sanctuary, full of activity and variety, with meaning behind every branch. He grew to love
the wilderness, inspired by its raw potential, and spent more time
in the woods than he did at home.
Heston’s parents divorced when he was 10 years old, and his mother
took him back to Illinois. But his passion for outdoor activities only
grew stronger with age, and he spent much time without friends,
alone in the woods, forming a bond between man and nature that
is all but lost to most today. Heston’s mother remarried to Chester
Heston, who became stepfather to the young boy and consequently
gave him his last name. Heston took his mother’s maiden name,
Charlton, and created the stage name, Charlton Heston, for his acting career. Still, he remained simply “Chuck” to close friends, and
his wife, Lydia Clarke, called him “Charlie.”